Need feedback and advice.

Submitted by petrified52 on February 9, 2013 - 12:18pm
Body: 

Hello ladies. I have been stopping on this site a few times per week to read and learn from all of you. In the back of my mind is one question that has kept returning to my thoughts and I just have the need to ask. How many of you ladies have been able to keep things "inside"? I read a post from "Discouraged" under success stories and have been hoping for an outcome like hers. I have been faithfully doing the exercises to the best of my ability and trying to do the posture as much as possible. The work of it is sometimes exhausting and I admit that there are times when I am just "tired" of thinking about it. Some days I start the day barely aware that there is anything different but it doesn't last long. The last couple of days the heavy feeling has returned and I have been worried that something will actually protrude. I don't know quite how I feel about any of this and I am trying very hard to be thankful that I don't have some dreaded illness as I know that many people have far worse crosses to bear. I guess I'm asking if I have a good chance of staving off the inevitable through this posture and exercise work? I would love to hear what all of you are experiencing and how this WW work has helped improve symptoms in this area. I would be truly grateful for your thoughts. Thank you and blessings to you.....

Forum:

fab

February 9, 2013 - 4:22pm

Hey poor despondent one, nobody can predict the future. Discouraged talked about the inevitability of the descent of the pelvic organ, well there are ladies here who have halted that liberation ride, and Discouraged herself delayed it (16 years) until the age of 68 which the young ones here would consider hugely old and possibly past it and yet Discouraged says she has a job and is playing with grandchildren and saying no it is not stopping me from living my life.

Your organ may or may not entirely descend even if you did nothing. We are all individuals, our fates not the same. Maintaining the posture, and doing what WW exercises you can, means you are taking charge and doing your best to halt that process and hopefully return the organs to where they belong. That is empowering.

Working hard at something and seeming not to get results is frustrating and depressing, but you need to look at what it is that your prolapse is stopping you from doing that has led you to this present hiatus and then devise ways around it.

That heavy feeling will return from time to time and there could be any number of reasons for it from heavy lifting to eating the wrong food, to just feeling generally off.

I came to WW work after many years of the uterus protruding well outside, boy was she freedom bound, besides that I had broken my hip and the two impinged on each other. I was at the stage where I could barely walk what with the sore hip, the uterine prolapsed well outside and the constant need to pee when I walked. So WWposture and exercise meant I walked again without the pain and piddle, and walked longer and further.

I still have not given up hope of its ultimate effectiveness at getting my uterus back up and over that pelvic bone. And yes, I do have bad times, but not like it was.

Cheers, Fab

cinder60

February 9, 2013 - 4:31pm

I had been feeling like maybe I was winning the battle of existing with the pop and then along came a tooth extraction. I wasn't able to eat correctly for about a week and low and behold, I am now feeling like I am almost back to the beginning. Not only will it not stay up, it is bleeding a little again and is very itchy. So, it is amazing to me what little things seem to make such big differences in my life now that I have a full blown, outside the body, pop. Good luck Petrified. I just keep telling myself that I was having better days and therefore, they will probably come again.

Surviving60

February 9, 2013 - 5:51pm

Hi petrified. You know, I was struck by your comment on WW work being exhausting. If you are talking about learning to stay in posture, trust me that it will be anything BUT exhausting once you get to where it is second nature. I have had way more energy since adopting this posture, than I had before. There is just something so comfortable and right about how it makes me feel. So please keep up the work until once day you will realize that it is no longer tiring. It's the correct posture for ALL of you, not just your prolapse. It feels wonderful and I don't think my body remembers any other way to be.

As for feedback on your question......I have "nature's pessary" which means that my 'celes keep my cervix relatively well in there. The 'celes themselves are all over the place on different days. Some days they be more exposed to the opening to the point where they may be causing some irritation until I slap something soothing down there. How far "out" they are at those times, I couldn't exactly say because looking at myself in the mirror is just not something I do! It doesn't matter to me. Posture keeps things under control. My symptoms are not something I obsess over, they're just something I use to remind myself to stay with good habits. - Surviving

petrified52

February 12, 2013 - 1:18pm

Thank you, fab. Sorry this reply is so late in coming. Your story is inspiring and encouraging. You are right, of course, that our individuality means that no one can predict what will occur in each of our own situations. I guess I am still having fears, possibly unjustified, of what might happen. I guess we never know that no matter what is going on in our lives.
I consider myself to be strong in many ways but health is my achilles heel. I have never been very good with illness, whether my own, or someone I care about. I guess I also have read too many "main stream" articles on prolapse and listened to friends in the medical community who keep telling me that gravity is not my friend and that I cannot slow or stop what is going to happen no matter what I try so I might as well enjoy whatever I want to do until everything "drops out."
Thank you for getting me back on track and I am once again feeling more upbeat about what I "can" do to help my circumstances and continue with the activities I love to do in a way that is more healthful and advantageous to my situation. I guess much of the fear comes from my mom, who has had her bladder protruding for many years now. Everyone keeps telling me that I will automatically have that because my mom does. She certainly doesn't let it restrict her, though and I don't know how she does all the things that she does. She is an inspiration. Now, with these exercises, she is helping the lower back pain that she was experiencing and working on as much of an improvement as she can possibly achieve.
I pray that you have continued success and I thank you again for taking the time to encourage this nervous Nelly.

petrified52

February 12, 2013 - 1:33pm

Hi Surviving and thank you for your thoughts on my question. The posture is getting easier to do but sometimes I think I am overdoing it. By that, I mean that I may actually be arching my back too much in an attempt to create a bigger curve. I might not need to be doing that and then I would find it more comfortable. Also, trying to adapt a way of doing my housework, etc. that includes the posture instead of falling back on my old ways of doing things. I do agree with something you said in another post about the prolapse making you adopt more healthful ways all around. I am certainly seeing that in my diet, etc. I do feel that my stomach may have actually gotten a bit larger, even when I pull the belly up by lifting my chest. I guess that maybe that is because things are moving around but in a good way?
I was relieved to hear you say that you don't look down below because I don't think that is something I could ever do and I'm glad not to be alone in that regard. I am also feeling reinforced by your comment that the posture keeps things under control for you. I guess that occasionally I am allowing myself to grieve for what I feel was a simpler time in my life when my IBS was the only thing that I needed to try to control. It has only been a couple of months for me and I'm sure that as time goes on I will adapt more fully. I have no intention of giving up this WW work and exercise and when I feel discouraged, I will continue to come to this forum and read the experiences and trials of others to share and gain strength. Thank you very much.......

petrified52

February 12, 2013 - 3:33pm

Hello Cinder60. I am sorry that you are having a difficult time. It is odd how certain things that are seemingly unrelated to the prolapse have such an affect on it. I recently noticed that limiting myself to one cup of coffee per day has really seemed to help with that constant feeling of having to urinate. I wish you much luck as well and I hope that you are feeling much better very soon.

fab

February 13, 2013 - 5:36am

Yes, well gravity is what they also say about breasts with aging and of course they do drop, but because we wear bras they do not tend to drop as far as they do for women in cultures where clothing was not part of the basic necessities. You probably have seen photos of so called primitive tribes, read topless and pre-industrialisation, where their breasts have dropped waist low, and they have done so because their lives were physically more demanding and their breasts did not receive the care and protection that ours do.

Because you have adopted posture and are doing everything else you can to position your body and your organs into their correct placings, you can view that as the equivalent to wearing a bra. Just as the bra is a positive breast saving measure, WWposture is a positive POP saving measure.

And the genetic argument is hard to counter. You have prolapse, your mum has prolapse. Can’t really deny there might be a genetic link, but you can’t assume there is either. Who’s to say you don’t take more after your father’s side of the genetic lottery?

So there you have your friends’ compelling arguments and they don’t really necessarily point to the future they are painting for you at all. They’re pointing downhill all the way, and you are looking upwards. Of course they can’t see your point of view. Meteorites come close to the earth and some have hit, but that does not prove that one will hit again in your lifetime. Sure, the possibility is there, but that is all that there is: a possibility.

At the moment you are managing your POP and you are hopeful of improvement. Of course, you don’t want to go through what your mother has gone through, but even at her degree and time of POP, you say she is seeing improvement with posture. For yours, not so far advanced, and you showing the same degree of dedication to righting yourself, you have a greater, quicker prospect of lasting improvement.

And Cinder60, thanks for your story too, I guess I have been back to scratch like you a few times, but doing what you know as the good work, does get you forward again and things start to feel better.

cheers, Fab

Surviving60

February 13, 2013 - 5:51pm

Petrified, some of my favorite images on this site and among the blog articles, are those pictures Christine has collected that show very young girls in beautiful WW posture. I like to think of these pix and realize that virtually all of us used to stand and move that way. All we are trying to do is to get our old posture back, and with time and practice we can make it as effortless as it was then. Some of us have been sucking everything in for so long, that we can't seem to let go.

I am not overweight, but I have a belly on me. My wardrobe is WW-friendly and I don't feel this belly is obvious to the outside world. But naked is another thing. One brave day, I looked at my naked bod in the mirror, both in posture, and assuming a suck-and-tuck stance. My expectation was that I would prefer the way my belly looked when it was sucked in. To my surprise, even with my big belly, I thought I looked 100% better in correct posture. It was a nicer and more natural line, and my belly flab didn't get all folded and bunched up at my waist!

You are exhausted now from the effort of keeping in posture, but that period doesn't last. You are right in thinking that you may be overdoing it. Arching the back is not part of the posture; lumbar curvature takes care of itself if you relax the belly and pull up the chest.

And repeat the mantra - this is not just about prolapse. It's about spine, hips, overall health and well-being, the whole nine yards. This work came along at such a perfect time in my life, and I have never wished myself back to the old days (except maybe for the benefit of knowing then what I know now......) - Surviving

louiseds

February 14, 2013 - 5:36am

I quite like that idea, Surviving. How about "getting our original posture back"?

petrified52

February 14, 2013 - 10:26am

Surviving, I have 3 nieces between the ages of 5 and 12. I notice that their stance is more natural but I don't think that will last. I feel badly because family and friends want to do pilates, etc. think that I don't know what I am talking about. My mom has tried tell my sister-in-law but she rolled her eyes. As for the clothing, I am happy for the change. I like the stretchy pants and long tunics because I am tall. (5'8", 134lbs.) I am comfortable in them and my stomach doesn't really show. I have had somewhat of a belly all these years because I was told not to do abdominal exercises after delivering my son as I had complications and heavy bleeding after delivery was a problem. That was almost 27 years ago now.

I remember when I was in my early 20's, I had to lay on the bed and use a pair of pliers to pull up the zipper. And there was no "stretch" denim back in those days. I remember sometimes getting a stomach ache from being all pulled in but I certainly did appear to have that flat stomach. Wish I had known back then but I may not have listened since I thought I was healthy at the time.

I do agree with you also that the WW posture is helping my body in other areas. I was so inflexible and didn't even realize it. Especially when it comes to my hips. I had almost no turn-out ability and I have now loosened up quite a bit. I can sit cross-legged without being stiff when I try to get up. I sit on the sofa like that with a small pillow behind me. My husband says that it looks uncomfortable but he won't sit anywhere but in his recliner.

Sometimes I am still a little bitter over my current circumstance but I am learning more acceptance and I hope that one day soon I can look at prolapse as you do and be more content with it. And I am supposing that once the posture becomes second nature, even if I stray out of it for a moment or two, as long as I get right back in, things shouldn't just drift back because most of the day I am keeping things where they belong and they should stay there more easily? Thanks again.

louiseds

February 14, 2013 - 7:55pm

BTW, don't underestimate the ability of your nieces to understand about Whole Woman principles. Some Whole Woman principles are probably TMI in families who don't believe in sex education until puberty. I hope your brother and sister in law will understand the importance of these little girls knowing the non-sexual aspects of their posture and of their anatomy, because as soon as they know they can ask you questions about it, (and that you will answer their questions honestly, and discreetly if necessary), these girls will be beating a path to your door!

I am not suggesting that you become their sex educator. I am suggesting that you teach them why their body shape and configuration is like it is, and why it is important not to make it behave differently, just to look like someone else. If only all women would do this for the girls in their family. Sigh.

Louise

petrified52

February 14, 2013 - 8:04pm

Thanks Louise. I am certainly no authority on any of this considering my being a newbie here. I am just very much more aware of the things that I see and hear now. There are so many websites, gyms, health clubs, etc. that endorse the opposite of what is actually helpful. I really need to study more anatomy to be able to speak with knowledge and confidence. Fighting accepted stereotypes isn't an easy business.

louiseds

February 14, 2013 - 8:20pm

No, fighting accepted stereotypes is not an easy business. I don't think you will need a lot of anatomy. The girls will not know the anatomy. I was thinking more of explaining that the lumbar curve is there to allow her pelvis to tilt forwards, and that they shouldn't tuck their bottom under, or suck their tummy in, because that makes their bladder and uterus fall off the back of the bony shelf it rests on.

You will no doubt be watching as the 11 year old's body changes shape. She may feel self conscious about her enlarging hips and her developing breasts, and she may need some reassurance that it is normal to feel self-conscious when your body is changing and developing, but that she is turning slowly into a beautiful young woman, and allowing her belly and butt to be relaxed, and to hold her breasts proudly, will make her feel confident and strong as she goes through these changes. That's probably all the info she needs. If she asks more questions, perhaps you could both research the anatomy together, whether at the local library or at home. A high school level human anatomy and physiology text book will have everything you could ever need, explained as simply as possible, and with good illustrations. You can often buy them secondhand, very cheaply. This book could be your secret weapon.

Louise